(19) |
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(11) |
EP 0 247 841 A2 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(43) |
Date of publication: |
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02.12.1987 Bulletin 1987/49 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 27.05.1987 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE |
(30) |
Priority: |
27.05.1986 GB 8612868
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(71) |
Applicant: Mars G.B. Limited |
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London EC3M 6BN (GB) |
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(72) |
Inventor: |
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- Seward, Barry
Four Marks
Nr Alton
Hampshire (GB)
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(74) |
Representative: Colgan, Stephen James et al |
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CARPMAELS & RANSFORD
43 Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2RA London WC1A 2RA (GB) |
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(57) A beverage sachet has improved base seam opening performance by the provision of
sealed lands (16) extending inwardly from the side seams (6).
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[0001] This invention relates to beverage packages.
[0002] In U.K. Patent Specification 2121762A we described a system for obtaining beverages
from,
inter alia, sealed sachets containing a product providing a beverage when mixed with water,
for example ground coffee or leaf tea. The sachet contains a filter material to retain
the coffee grounds or tea leaves and preferably is provided with a plastics nozzle
at the top to assist in locating the sachet correctly with a water-introduction injector.
The base of the sachet is opened, for example, by cutting or by the provision of a
pressure- or heat-sensitive seal, an aqueous medium is introduced through the nozzle,
and the beverage is collected from the opening in the sachet base.
[0003] One problem with such sachets arises from irregular base openings. In our European
Specification 0179641A we have described and claimed how base openings may be improved
by use of a web of material within the sachet (which web may or may not be a filter
mesh) and which is provided with an upwardly-facing seam which tends to evert when
aqueous medium is introduced at the top of the sachet.
[0004] There is, however, still room for improvement with base openings. One problem which
may still arise results from the centre of the base seam curling upwards as it opens.
If this curl stays in place, there is the possibility of it acting as a channel to
enable liquid to spurt out obliquely rather than purely vertically downwards. We have
now found that by providing sealed lands on the side seams adjacent the base this
problem can be reduced or eliminated.
[0005] According to the invention we provide a generally planar sealed beverage sachet formed
of a substantially air- and water-impermeable flexible sheet material, said sheet
material enclosing and being attached to a web of permeable material which supports
a product which provides a beverage when mixed with an aqueous medium, the sachet
being provided with a locating means at one end thereof (the top end) for an aqueous
medium introducing means, a frangible base seam at the opposite end to the top end,
and a pair of side seams each of which includes, adjacent the base seam, a sealed
land, said lands extending inwardly towards one another across the generally planar
surface of the sachet.
[0006] Preferably the sachet has an everting permeable web - one which, in cross section,
includes an inverted generally V-shaped portion, with the opposed edges of the web
being attached to respective opposite faces of the air- and water-impermeable sheet
material.
[0007] The lands may be roughly semicircular in shape and may be disposed adjacent the web
material (typically a filter material) within the sachet.
[0008] A preferred sachet according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing which shows a front elevation of the sachet.
[0009] Referring to the drawing, the sachet is generally of the type described in European
Specification 0179641A and consists of two sheets of water- and air-impermeable sheet
material 2 welded together at top seam 4 and side seam 6. A bottom seam 8 is formed
of a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Within the sachet, sealed to the side seams, is
a sheet of filter material 10 folded to form a W in cross-section. The apex of the
W everts when the sachet is opened. A nozzle 12 is sealed into top seam 4.
[0010] The side seams 6 extend vertically downwardly and then taper inwardly at 14 to form
a narrower opening for the beverage. Adjacent the taper, each side seam 6 includes
a sealed land 16. As shown each land extends inwardly to approximately the same extent
as the taper on each seam.
[0011] When the sachet is used, the presence of the lands 16 have a tendency to cause the
side seams to bend inwards and reduce the bottom seam curling tendency described above.
The lands generally provide a more consistent and better opening of the sachet when
used.
1. A generally planar sealed beverage sachet formed of a substantially air- and water-impermeable
flexible sheet material, said sheet material enclosing and being attached to a web
of permeable material which supports a product which provides a beverage when mixed
with an aqueous medium, the sachet being provided with a locating means at one end
thereof (the top end) for an aqueous medium introducing means, a frangible base seam
at the opposite end to the top end, and a pair of side seams each of which includes,
adjacent the base seam, a sealed land, said lands extending inwardly towards one another
across the generally planar surface of the sachet.
2. A sachet according to claim 1 wherein the side seams taper inwardly towards the
base seam of the sachet, each land being disposed at the top of the taper and extending
inwardly to approximately the same extent as the taper.
3. A sachet according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the permeable web material, in cross
section, includes an inverted generally V-shaped portion, with the opposed edges of
the web being attached to respective opposite faces of the air- and water-impermeable
sheet material.
4. A sachet according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said base seam comprises a pressure
- or heat-sensitive seal.
5. A sachet according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the locating means comprises
a plastic nozzle attached to the sachet.
6. A sachet according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the product is ground coffee
or leaf tea and the web material forms a filter therefor.
